The Folk Behind Our Favourite Scarecrows
Please click on any of the images to see an enlarged view of the creators of Haddenham's favourite scarecrows 2020
No 1 – "Where are those Pesky Moles" by Kate Hollick and Florence Banister
Cousins Kate Hollick and Florence Banister, came back to Haddenham at the start of lockdown to stay with their parents and both thought it would be fun to take part in this year's Scarecrow Festival. A mole problem in the gardens at Manor Farm was the trigger for the winning concept, so when they managed to source two stone moles, they started work, firstly doing a mock-up indoors, then carefully arranging each element outside the Manor farm gate, with a bit of help from their Mums Lizzie and Carolyn. The girls loved both taking part and walking around the village themselves to look at all the other scarecrows, but as Kate said "Grandad's very pleased to have his clothes back now!"
No 2 – "Florence Nightingale" by the charity's Haddenham Community Support Group
The inspiration for the Support Group's entry was the fact that 2020 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. This is especially topical just 2 months after the temporary NHS Nightingale Hospitals opened as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scarecrow was very much a team effort, with each member of the Group making different parts of the tableau in their own homes, then delivering them to one central place to be assembled. Group Member, Angela Hart, said "We're planning to move 'Florence' to the front of our Haddenham charity shop, which will soon reopen".
Find out how to book your free time-slot to donate your items here: https://www.fnhospice.org.uk/shop-.../charity-shops-reopening/
No 3 – "Pearl the Pirate Mermaid" by Margaret and David Ackroyd
Margaret and David Ackroyd at Churchend have always set very high standards in previous Haddenham's Scarecrow Festivals, including last year's entry "Snow White and her 7 dwarfs", which was voted Haddenham's 3rd favourite 2019. This year they decided to make a Mermaid, so set about gathering materials and items they had at home, including hundreds of their son's CD's, which they cut in half to make her scales! They have especially enjoyed the reactions of visiting children, including one little girl who David saw looking at the Mermaid every day and who seemed disappointed when Pearl had swam away. Since the Festival ended, Margaret has made a trip to Haddenham Garden Centre to buy plants to fill her front garden, but says she already knows what they're going to make in the 2021 Festival: "We've had 2 third favourites – we would love a first next year!"
The 2020 Haddenham Scarecrow Festival is raising funds for the Medical Detection Dogs charity in support of their research into the dogs' ability to detect Covid-19. Generous donations of approx £4000 have so far been received or pledged. We will
continue to welcome donations until the end of June, after which wewill be arranging a presentation with the charity. Donations for any amount of £1 upwards can be made in any of the following ways:
2. By Bank Transfer to 40-08-39, Account 51035185
3. By cheque (payable to Haddenham Association of Scouts and Guides) or cash in an envelope delivered to
7 Dovecote HP17 8BP or 70 Stanbridge Road HP17 8HN
Thank you
Photographs of all the 2020 Scarecrows are still available to view online here
Francesca Flaxton
20th June 2020
